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elephant food jade plant

elephant food jade plant Elephant Bush

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Description

elephant food jade plant Elephant BushIntroducing the Elephant Bush, also known as Portulacaria afra, which is a fascinating and popular succulent garden plant native to South Africa. It belongs to the Portulacaceae family and is known for its unique appearance and easy care requirements. The elephant bush succulent gets its name from its resemblance to the foliage of an elephant's trunk. It is also commonly referred to as the dwarf jade plant, small leaf jade, miniature jade, elephant

Introducing the Elephant Bush, also known as Portulacaria afra, which is a fascinating and popular succulent garden plant native to South Africa. It belongs to the Portulacaceae family and is known for its unique appearance and easy-care requirements.

The elephant bush succulent gets its name from its resemblance to the foliage of an elephant's trunk. It is also commonly referred to as the dwarf jade plant, small leaf jade, miniature jade, elephant food, or the Spekboom. The name "Dwarf Jade Plant" comes from its small, jade-like leaves, while "Spekboom" is an Afrikaans term meaning "bacon tree" due to the plant's edible leaves that reportedly taste like bacon.


The elephant bush plant features small, round, and fleshy pale green leaves that store water, allowing your elephant bush plant to withstand drought conditions. 

The trailing stems of the elephant bush plants are thick and red-hued, which gives them a unique and appealing appearance in hanging baskets.

When grown as a houseplant, the elephant bush typically reaches a height of 1 to 3 feet.

However, if planted outdoors in its native habitat, your Portulacaria afra can grow much larger, reaching heights of up to 20 feet. The elephant bush makes for an excellent bonsai due to its unique growth pattern and ability to withstand pruning. Its thick, fleshy leaves and sturdy branches give it a robust appearance, making it an ideal succulent for shaping into intricate bonsai designs. 

The elephant bush flowers are small, star-shaped, and usually a light pink or lavender color. While the flowers are not the main attraction of this elephant bush succulent, they can add a touch of beauty when they bloom during the spring to late summer.

The elephant bush Portulacaria afra comes in various varieties, including a slow-growing variegated form Portulacaria afra variegata; a trailing growth bush Portulacaria afra prostrata; and a midstripe rainbow bush Portulacaria afra medio-picta, offers a diverse range of beauty in green spaces.

When and How to Water Your Elephant Bush

Like other drought-tolerant jade plants, your elephant bush succulent prefers a watering routine that allows the soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering can harm the elephant bush plant and cause root rot.

In the summer, during the growing season, you should water elephant bush succulents once or twice a month when the soil is dry. A good rule of thumb is to water this elephant plant when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. In the winter, during the dormant period,  you probably do not need to water them at all. 

Remember, it's always better to underwater than to overwater the elephant bush plant. This resilient Portulacaria afra plant can tolerate drought conditions better than excessive moisture. So, keep an eye on the soil moisture and adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

Light Requirements - Where to Place Your Elephant Bush Plant

When growing the elephant bush indoors, it thrives in bright, indirect light. Place your elephant bush plant near a window where it can receive plenty of natural bright light, but make sure to avoid direct sunlight, especially during the hottest parts of the day.

If you notice the leaves turning yellow or getting scorched, it's a sign that the Portulacaria afra elephant bush is receiving too much direct sunlight. So, finding that sweet spot of bright, indirect light is key to keeping your elephant bush succulent plant happy indoors.

If you decide to grow your elephant bush outdoors, it loves basking in the full sun. Although partial shade in the afternoon is frequently preferred, these plants need at least six hours of strong light each day to survive.

This is true, especially in hotter climates where the plant may become stressed by the afternoon sun's intense heat.

Your succulents should not be placed in any areas that receive continuous, direct sunlight, as this could lead to burned foliage.

Remember, the elephant bush is a versatile succulent plant and can adapt to different light conditions. Just keep in mind that it prefers bright, indirect light indoors and full sun to partial shade outdoors.

Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs 

Elephant succulents are very airy, porous, nutrient-rich well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5- 6.5; succulents require fast-draining soil that dries completely between waterings. Your soil must have a sandy texture and a low water-holding capacity, just like desert soil.  Ideally, you want to use our specialized succulent potting mix that contains 5 natural substrates to promote the development of a strong root system that helps your African elephant bush plant to thrive.   

When it comes to fertilizing your elephant bush plant, it only needs a small amount of fertilizer applied once a year in spring. These succulents prefer a fertilizer with lower doses of NPK, with a maximum ratio of 5-10-5 that is higher in phosphorus than nitrogen.

Hardiness Zones & More 

When it comes to growing the Elephant Bush plant indoors, the Elephant Bush prefers a cozy environment with temperatures between 65°F and 75°F. It can tolerate slightly cooler temperatures, but it's best to avoid extreme cold or frost. If you notice the leaves starting to shrivel or the tips turning brown, it may be a sign that the air is too dry. You can increase humidity by placing a tray of water near the plant or using a humidifier.

If you are living in USDA zones 9-11, you can grow your Elephant Bush plant outdoors year-round. These zones have mild temperatures and are less prone to frost.  

In cooler zones, it can be kept outdoors during the summer and brought in as the temperature drops. 

Elephant Bush can handle average to slightly higher humidity levels outdoors. Just make sure to provide well-draining soil to prevent waterlogged conditions, as excessive moisture can lead to root rot.

Don't worry if your succulents become too hot; they can tolerate triple-digit temperatures in the summer and prefer constant temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Wildlife - Portulacaria afra Attracts the Following Friendly Pollinators

Portulacaria afra have tiny, star-shaped flowers, which bloom in clusters, and are a magnet for friendly pollinators. Bees are particularly drawn to its nectar-rich blooms, while butterflies and other beneficial insects are also frequent visitors. In areas where it thrives outdoors, hummingbirds may be attracted to the vibrant blossoms as well. 

Butterflies
Bees
Hummingbirds
Lady Bugs
Multi Pollinators
Other Birds

According to ASPCA, the Portulacaria afra Elephant Bush is friendly to both humans and pets such as dogs and cats. This makes it a great choice for households with curious pets or small children.

How to Propagate Your Portulacaria afra

This African elephant bush is relatively easy to propagate. It can be grown from stem cuttings, which should be allowed to dry for a day or two before being planted in well-draining soil. The cuttings usually root quickly and can be grown into new, young plants.

Key Takeaways

  1. Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra) is a fantastic succulent with small, jade-like leaves.
  2. Visually appealing and easy to care for, adaptable for both indoor and outdoor growth.
  3. Tolerates a wide range of warm temperatures, between 65°F and 75°F, and handles higher humidity levels.
  4. It can thrives in bright, indirect light. It is suitable for beginner and experienced plant enthusiasts alike.
  5. Often grown as a seasonal accent plant or houseplant.
  6. Order your Elephant Bush today and add something truly exceptional to your garden.

The Bottom Line

Overall, Portulacaria afra, or Elephant Bush, is a remarkable plant that combines beauty, resilience, and ecological value. Its succulent, jade-like leaves and sprawling growth make it a striking addition to both indoor and outdoor settings, while its ability to tolerate drought and thrive in poor soils underscores its low-maintenance appeal. This plant’s capacity to attract friendly pollinators such as bees and butterflies further enhances its value in promoting biodiversity. With minimal care—bright, indirect light, well-draining soil, occasional watering, and protection from frost—Portulacaria afra can flourish for years, serving as both a stunning decorative element and an eco-friendly choice for any garden or home.

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GVG
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Must read for any company owner
Format: Hardcover
If you own a company, have a business or are a manager, this is a must read
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Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2026
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moangu
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 4
Indicators framework done right
Format: Paperback
I have found this book really useful. I would say it could be useful also for anyone working in a large organization and dealing with the challenges, virtues and downsides of performance indicators methodologies, both for career development within the organization and for the organization's success. The book confirms the need to read Andrew Grove's (1983) High Output Management. And it reminds us that Peter Drucker's (1954) The Practice of Management is still relevant. I would highlight several ideas promoted by the book: First, regarding OKRs: the benefits of the transparency of OKRs, with all OKRs visible to the entire organization, from the CEO down to the lowest level employees; the recommendation of dual planning (annual and quarterly); the role OKRs should have on engagement, commitment and motivation; the importance of constructing and cascading OKRs in a meaningful way as opposed to by rote (set them and forget them), enthusiastic compliance instead of bureaucratic compliance; the need to have two kinds of goals (committed and aspirational); the need to encourage staff to define a portion of their OKRs, to let them develop their own objectives, a healthy proportion of alignment (top-down) and autonomy (bottom-up); the key role of culture and the impossibility sometimes of changing it without staff renewal; the recommendation to separate bonuses from the OKR cycle; the flexibility to adjust or discard OKRs mid-cycle; the real risk of big organizations at any time of having some significant percentage of people working on the wrong things; Second, all the discussion regarding performance management, the recognized futility and sometimes demoralizing effect of annual performance reviews, is very insightful. Other thoughts, not original from this book, but worth recalling: ideas are easy, execution is everything; the ideal number of direct reports to a manager should be somewhere between 7 and 20; the most important things need to get done first or they won't get done at all; not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted; transparency and accountability are two related but clearly different concepts, the latter rather an outcome, the former totally an output; moral suffers when people know they can't succeed. Unfortunately, the book has its shortcomings, most of them associated with the testimonies of OKR virtues. Particularly interesting is the case of Zume Pizza, presented as a success case (and OKR as one of the critical factors of that success story). However, we know now that the company bankrupted a few years after the book was published, showing that even the most successful venture capitalist is not always right, his knack for business not always foolproof. And also showcasing that OKRs might be necessary but certainly not sufficient. At any rate, since the book is complemented by a website (https://www.whatmatters.com/) I wish the author shared there a post-mortem, assessing what happened and the relationship between OKRs and that failure. On the other hand, the case of Bono's NGO could have been spared. Zero value added. And, maybe, also the one about the Gates Foundation. Both examples are part of the book's evangelizing, metaphor-ridden and inspirational tone, where billionaires are presented as driven only for the possibility of bringing happiness to humanity and not as real people, that take most of their decisions in the pursuit of money, power or fame.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2025
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mary Leach
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Improve any size business-use everyone's brainpower!
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Use of OKRs is fantastic in any size business. Global goal setting and feedback- everyone in the company on the same page! Get ideas from all levels to solve problems and see improvements. Love it. Get input from everyone. Super great examples of how it works. Very good summary of each chapter at the back for quick refresh. Every business owner should read this book to make that company run well.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2025
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Sal P.
New York, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Execution Book!
Format: Hardcover
I just finished "Measure What Matters" by John Doerr. Such a great book full of advice for companies struggling with #execution. My favorite #quotes from this book: "Good ideas with great execution are how you make magic." @Larry Page "Ideas are easy. Execution is everything." "I view this year's failure as next year's opportunity to try it again." @Gordon Moore "Specific hard goals produce a higher level of output than vaguely worded ones." "Set goals from bottom up." "Dare to fail." "... four OKR superpowers: focus, alignment, tracking, and stretching." "Bad companies are destroyed by crisis. Good companies survive them. Great companies are improved by them." @Andy Grove "When you are tired of saying it, people are starting to hear it." Jeff Weiner "Done is better than perfect." Sheryl Sandberg "... if we try to focus on everything, we focus on nothing." "Growth costs money." "... you can only do one big thing at a time really well, and so you better know what that one is." "Doing too much too soon will definitely end in pain." "To inspire true commitment, leaders must practice what they teach" "Transparency seeds collaboration." "Having a good mission is not enough. You need a concrete objective, and to need to know how you're going to get there." "... my favorite definition of entrepreneurs: Those who do more than anyone thinks possible ... with less than anyone thinks possible." "If you set a crazy, ambitious goal and miss it, you'll still achieve something remarkable." @Larry Page "Stretch goals can be crushing if people do not believe they're achievable. That's where the art of framing comes in." "Feedback is an opinion, grounded in observations and experiences, which allows us to know what impression we make on others." Sheryl Sandberg "Feedback can be highly constructive- but only if it is specific." "Continuous recognition is a powerful driver of engagement." "... a really good company values different opinions." "... behavior defines a company more meaningfully than product lines or market share." "Vision-based leadership beats command-and-control." "People watch what you do more than what you say." "Time is the enemy of transformation." "... there was no shame in trying your hardest and failing, not when OKRs help you fail smart and fail fast." "Goal setting is more art than science."
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Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2018
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Kevin
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 3
helpful and moderately entertaining
Format: Kindle
Like most business books this likely could have been a long journal article, but overall still worth a quick read.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2026

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